Should we get rid of the ranks (blue stars)

In this thread, I annouced that the ranking system was updated - what I thought was a more simple solution however a good comment from a member (gdl_gdl) was whether we need it at all. We don't need need it - should it be removed?

Also - please comment whether you feel that mods should have something graphical (aside from stars) that highlights them as mods. Also not required however would be an identifying factor.

I can't see any good reason to have the stars - if all they do is denote a level of posts achieved, they are replicating the post count and are thus redundant. Additionally, without a legend on the site somewhere to explain what they are, new members will always be asking why they are there and what how they get more ...

Besides, we don't need to encourage post whores, do we?

Mod should keep the symbols they have - it helps them assert authority when needed.

It's hard to give a yes or no answer. It really depends on what the site owner and community want to achieve, and the objectives may not always align. But personally, I am leaning in the 'no' camp.

The problem with assigning "expert", "senior member" and similar titles is that it creates a hierarchy where noobs and "junior" may become reluctant to challenge their views. But as we all know, experts and senior can get it all wrong and often have their views entrenched with a particular angle ie. Bias. So from this point of view, this labeling may in fact be detrimental to the flow of discussions. Given how BNA has operated and what I have experienced in other mature and objectively moderated forum, trolls who wants to take a discussion to a ridiculous tangent are usually dealt with promptly, causing little negative impact. At the end of the day, a knowledgeable person will always standout in a discussion and professionals can decide on how they want to advertise themselves in their signature.

The reality is, our reputation is only as good (or bad) as our last post.

Granted a lot of my post count is from link the photo thread which means I've contributed a lot of fluff.I do however try to be serious and add value when I can to a thread.

Every one gets a bit precious about status I think.I always keep my ego in check by remembering that this is only an internet forum(cyber world) full of personal opinions, preferences and ideas that are mostly insignificant in the real world and amount to zip outside this community.We represent a minority of all Australia's cyclists and like to chatter amongst ourselves and air our opinions.It's really not that important in the real world/daily life of a member if some one else has a blue star.

I voted no, I dont see the need to highlight any members other than Admin, Mods and industry Experts.

The senior members are easy to spot by post count, then its up to me to decide if their opinions / posts are worth reading etc a system of stars isnt going to make it easier.

Admin and Mods are also easily found and I have to say do a great job keeping the forums running nicely.

As for experts EG: Alex Simmons/RST; on a car detailing forum I helped start we used an avatar of a polishing machine to denote a professional detailer maybe here you could use a little bike avatar or similar.

We also have a rule that any re-sellers or their staff must identify themselves either by user name EG: I am Dave_Waxit or in their signature. This helps the "normal" user identify posts by these people as they could be commerically skewed. Mind you we have some very emotional people when it comes to products and product arguements are common.

I find this forum is very well run and the members are friendly and tolerant of new members, it has a great "feel" to it so to speak.

I think you need to run the poll again with less ambiguous phrasing in the question. Too many people were confused by the wording to give an accurate assessment of the members' views.

(You've got a different question in the thread title to the poll question.)

Cheers,Graeme

On that note:
I realise that this is the appropriate sub forum for this, but would it get a broader response if it was posted or linked to the General discussion area?
27 votes to date is a bit low for a representative count.
Not trying to teach you guys to suck eggs or anything, just thinking out loud.

The stars are not necessary for ego value. The titles aren't needed either for a 'Senior Member' as the post count tells people this. But mods and supermods should be identified as those in authority.

X-wing wrote:We know who the pros are on the forum

Well I don't know who all the pros are. I would like to have these experts identified as such, if their status is known to moderators. That ensures their opinions maybe respected, and possible biases made clear.

Riding bikes in traffic - what seems dangerous is usually safe; what seems safe is often more dangerous.

I feel that the vote count - and take into account at least 3 accidental "No's" - is a small cross section, but still representative.

That means - The stars go.
Has anyone got anything against giving the mods back a bicycle - but without the stars? Previously we had the square with a person holding a bike - I would simply it though it is aimed to create an identifier.